Lady Tiger tennis players sign with four-year schools
Cowley College sophomores Ane Ibarra and Andrea Rodriguez Oria, who are coming off solid freshman seasons and are vital members of the No. 5-ranked Lady Tiger tennis team, recently signed letters of intent to continue playing tennis at four-year schools.
Cowley College sophomores Ane Ibarra and Andrea Rodriguez Oria, who are coming off solid freshman seasons and are vital members of the No. 5-ranked Lady Tiger tennis team, recently signed letters of intent to continue playing tennis at four-year schools.
Rodrigiez Oria signed with NAIA school Ave Maria University in Maria, Florida.
Rodriguez Oria started the 2019-2020 school year winning the ITA Regional Doubles Championship and earned a trip to the ITA CUP with her partner Takalani Molaoa. The returning Region VI doubles champion is looking forward to another stellar year in doubles as Rodriguez Oria finished her freshman season ranked No. 6 in the nation in doubles.
"Andrea is one of the best doubles players in the nation," Cowley head coach Manuel Raga said. "I am glad she is getting this opportunity to play at a high level."
Rodriguez Oria chose Ave Maria because of the warm Florida weather, the head coach, and because the school has a good business program. However, she is looking forward to accomplishing more at Cowley during the spring tennis season.
"Thanks to the support of Coach Raga and my teammates it is like a family here at Cowley," Rodriguez Oria said. "We have a good team and want to do well at nationals."
Ibarra finished her freshman season ranked No. 14 in singles nationally and No. 11 in doubles in the nation with Laura Quezada. She opened her sophomore season playing No. 5 singles and No. 3 doubles with Rodriguez Oria.
She signed a letter of intent to compete at NCAA Division II Auburn University at Montgomery once her playing days at Cowley are over.
"They have a nice campus and a good coach," Ibarra said. "I like the way their coach focuses on the psychological part of the game."
Raga said Auburn University at Montgomery is getting an excellent student and tennis player in Ibarra.
"I am happy for her, Auburn University (at Montgomery) is a good fit for her tennis and academic career," Raga said.
Ibarra has learned a lot during her time at Cowley.
"Tennis is such an individual sport that coming to Cowley helped me learn how to compete as a team and support all of my teammates," Ibarra said. "With last year's national tournament being cancelled due to Covid, we hope to get back to nationals and compete for a national championship."